Folding table



Oct. 24, 1961 L SCHULTZ 3,005,670

FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4l FIG. 3 FIG. 4 35774337\ \/0 4Z 4 4 Il 22,

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l /4 INVENTOR la \A Il L L s AwREN-CE CHULTZ Z 7. 3538/ 3fm, 6// WLM ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1961 l.. `sci-lu LTZ FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 19602 Sheets-Shes?I 2 .ATTORNEYS United States Patent O i 3,005,670 FOLDINGTABLE Lawrence L. Schultz, 1809 Welland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn.Filed Feb. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 10,896 3 Claims. (Cl. 311-89) Thisinvention relates generally to tables and more particularly it relatesto a folding table to be used for games such as table tennis orping-pong, for dining or banquet use, and for any other purposerequiring a large flat useable surface.

-Previous constructions for'tables of the class described have beeneasily manufactured from heavy and bulky materials, and have thereforenot been collapsible or portable; or if they have been of thecollapsible type, they have been characterized by badly ridging jointsand have generally not been strong and durable enough for satisfactoryuse. In light of the foregoing, an important object of this invention isthe provision of a folding table of the class described which isconstructed so as to be light in weight, but still strong and durablefor its intended use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding table ofthe class described which may be folded compactly into a portable formso as to be quickly and easily removable from the location in which ithas been used to a small storage space.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a foldingtable of the class described which, although it is foldable into acompact and portable form, is con structed so as to be free of ridges orslight differentiations in smoothness of its useable surface.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding table ofthe class described which is constructed so that a relatively thin lightweight top may be placed thereon without affecting in any way theuseable effectiveness thereof.

Further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a foldingtable of the class described which is reasonably simple in construction,may be economically manufactured and yet possesses the requisitestability for the vindication of its intended purpose. j

The above and still further objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed speciiication, appended claims andattached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts orelements throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a view in perspective showing my invention in its extendeduseable position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in bottom plan;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of my invention in its collapsed position;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a` greatly enlarged perspective view in section taken on theline 5-5 ofFIG. 2.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the referencenumeral 1 represents my novel folding table in its entirety. The table 1comprises a sectioned top represented generally by the reference numeral2, and a plurality of foldable legs 3. The top 2 which is preferablyconstructed from any suitable thickness of plywood, Masonite or hardboard, comprises a relatively narrow generally rectangular centersection 4 having generally parallel end edges 5 and generally parallelside edges 6. The top 2 further comprises a pair of generallyrectangular intermediate leaves 7 7 which are relatively wide withrespect to the top center section 4. Each of the intermediate leaves 77' includes generally parallel outer and inner end edges 8-8, 9 9respectively and genr l CC j p 3,005,670

Patented Oct. 24, 1961 erally parallel side edges 10-10'. The top 2further comprises a pair of generally rectangular end leaves 11-11 whichare also relatively wide with respect to the top center section 4, butslightly shorter than the intermediate leaves 7 7', as seen particularlyin FIG. 4.

- Each ofthe end leaves 11f1-1' includes generally parallel outer andinner end edges 12-12, 13--13' respectively and generally parallel sideedges 14-14. Each of the intermediate leaves 7-7' is hingedly jointed,by means carried thereby as will hereinafter be described, at its innerend edge 9 9' to one of the opposite end edges 5Y reference numeral 15disposed in general parallelity with one another and in underlyingengagement with the bottom surface 16 of said top 2. The supports 15 maybe fabricated from any suitable material such as wood or metal, and arepreferably, and as shown cross-sectionally rectangular, but of coursemay be constructed to any suitable cross-sectional configuration.

having square cut opposite ends 18. The center sections 17 are rigidlysecured to the overlying top center section 4. Each of said supports 15further comprises a pair of relatively long intermediate sections 19each defining an outer end 20 and an inner end 21, and a pair of endsections 22 each defining an outer end 23 and an inner end 24. Each ofthe intermediate sections 19 is hingedly jointed at its inner end 21 toopposite ends 18 of said center section 17, and each of said endsections 22 is hingedly jointed at its inner end 24 to the outer end 20of one of said intermediate sections 19. Each of the intermediatesections 19 is rigidly secured to a corresponding one of the overlyingopposite intermediate top leaves 7-7, and each of the end sections 22 isrigidly secured to a corresponding one of the overlying .opposite endtop leaves 11-11', as shown particularly in FIG. 2. All of said hingedjoints are accomplished by means of the securement of a plurality ofconventional hinges 25 secured to the bottom face 26 of the supports 15by means of conventional fasteners 27. All of the support sections 17,19, 22 of the supports 15 are transversely aligned with the respectivecorresponding sections17, 19, 22 of the other support 15.

A plurality of foldable legs, represented generally by the referencenumeral 3, are provided for the purpose of supportingall of said leaves7-7, 11-11, and the top center section 4 in open position and in generalhorizontal alignment with one another, as seen particularly in FIGS. 1and 2. The legs 3 are hingedly secured to the table top 2 byconventional hinged brackets, represented in their entirety by thereference numeral 29, and not a specic part of this invention. A pair ofthe foldable legs 3 are hingedly secured in underlying relationship toeach of the end leaves 11-11' of the top 2, as shown particularly inFIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. l showing them in their extended position and FIG. 2showing them in their collapsed folded position.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 2-5, the table 1 is further provided withguide means, represented generally by the reference numeral 30, Which isrigidly secured to the bottom surface 16 of the top 2 adjacent each ofthe joints dened therein, the joints being represented generally by thereference numeral 31. The guide means 30 comprise groove defining strips32 each Secured to the bottom Each of these sup` ports 15 comprises arelatively short center section 17- '3 surface 16 of the top 2 adjacenteach of theredges 9, 9', 13, 13', the groove being represented by thereference numeral 34. The guide means 30 further comprise rib definingstrips 3S,Y each secured in like manner to the top 2 adjacent the edges5, 8, 8,V thereof, thev rib being represented by the reference numeral37. Both of the vstrips 32, 35 are secured to the top 2 by conventionalfasteners, represented by the reference numeral 38. The strips 32, 3Scooperate to rigidly connect the joints 31 together against verticaltransverse displacements of they top sections 4, 7-,,'7', 11-11, withreference to other thereof when the top 2 is in the horizontally alignedopen position, as seen particularly in FIGS. 1-2; For the purpose ofaccurately guiding each fof the rib defining strips 35 into and out ofthe grooves 34 defined by each of the strips` 32 during foldingmovements of the table 1, as will hereinafter be described, it ispreferred that the open edges 39 of the groove defining strips 32 definea cam surface, represented by the reference numeral 40, and seenparticularlyin FIG. 5.V Y v It is preferred that my invention beconstructed with a depending rail strip, represented generally by thereference numeral 41, which is rigidly secured to the marginal edges 6,10-10', 12V-12', 14-14, of the top 2, as seen particularly in FIGS. 1 3.The rail strips 41 comprise longitudinally sectioned side strips 42 andend strips 43` The side stripsl 42 define joints, represented generallyby the reference numeral 44 which are alignable with the joints 31 inthe top 2 and the joints 45 in the supports 15.

v Preferably, and as shown particularlyin FIGS.l l-3, the

the end support sections 22, with the supporting legs 3f foldedthereunder, are' inwardly and downwardly foldable throughoutapproximately 180l wherein they are porsi.- tioned in general underlyingrelationship and in general parallelity with the adjacent intermediateleaves 7--7 and the intermediatek support sections 19. Then thecorresponding adjacent end and intermediate leaves 11-11, 7-7 and theend and intermediate support sectionsy 22, 19, as foldedv in above saidparallel relationship, are unitly downwardly and inwardly foldablethroughoutA approximately 90 wherein they are disposed in generalnormality with the center top section 4, as seen partieularly in FIG. 3.For the purpose of providing clearance of the end leaves 11,-11 withrespect to the hinges 25, 46 secured to' the top center section 4, theend leaves 11-11 are constructedl s o as to be slightly smaller inlength than the intermediate leaves 7- 7 this being shown particularlyin FIGS.Y 3-5 This invention has been thoroughlyA tested and found to becompletely'satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; andwhile I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to bespecifically understood that the same may be modified without departurefrom l' one another and in underlying engagement with said top,

each of said supports comprising a relatively short center sectionrigidly secured to said overlying top center section, a. pair ofrelatively long intermediate sections Veach hingedly jointed at itsinner end to opposite ends of said center section and each beingrigidlyV secured to a corresponding one of the overlying oppositeintermediatetop leaves, and a pair of relatively long end sectionsV eachhingedly jointed atV its inner end to the outer end of one of saidintermediate sections and each being rigidly securedto a correspondingone of the overlying opposite end top leaves, all of said sections ofeach support being transversely aligned with the respectivecorresponding section of the other support, said table furthercomprising a plurality of foldable legs, a pair of said legs beinghingedly secured in underlying relationship to each of said end leavesof said top for supporting all of said leaves in open position and ingeneral horizontal alignment with one another, said end leavesand endsupport sections, with their supporting legs folded thereunder, beinginwardly and downwardly foldable throughout approximately 180 whereinthey are positioned in general underlying relationship and in generalparallelism with said adjacent intermediate leaves and intermediatesupport sections, said corresponding adjacent end and intermediateleaves and end and intermediate support sections, as folded in saidparallelrelationship, being'thereafter unitly downwardly and inwardlyfoldable throughout approximately wherein they are disposed in generalnormality with said center top section. Y Y

2. The structure defined in claim l in further combination with guidemeans rigidly secured to the underneath side of said sectioned topadjacent each of the joints defined therein, said guide means comprisinga groove defining strip secured to one of the joint edges of all thejoints of said top, and a rib dening strip secured to the other jointedge thereof, said strips cooperating to rigidly secure said joint edgestogether against vertical transverse displacement of said top sectionswith reference to other thereof when said top is in said horizontallyaligned open position.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which one of said. strips definesa cam surface for accurately guiding said rib defining strip into andout of said groove dening strip during said folding of said table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

